September 29, 2011

.The Day We Found Dylan's Ticklish Spot...


After a ridiculously long and taxing day, discovering baby girl's ticklish spot and making her laugh... really laugh in delight... is pretty much the best thing ever.  I'll make funny noises and do silly things all day to keep those dimples showing.

September 28, 2011

.We Went to a Farm.

Kallan and her fiance Kris had their tailgate wedding shower this weekend at her family's farm.  We all dressed in Auburn orange and blue, even the sweet babies. It was a mastered combination of country charm and the unhurried southern attitude, as we sat in rocking chairs and enjoyed burgers and homemade icecream in the clean outdoor air.

September 27, 2011

.Girl's Night.

Friday evening, I had my first girl's night post-baby.  We hosted a lingerie shower/ bachelorette night to celebrate Kallan's upcoming wedding.  It was hard being away from Dylan, but she was having some quality daddy-daughter time.  It was a nice little break to just be with my friends laughing and being ridiculous... that carefree kind of fun where you revert back to your giggly 16 year old selves for the evening and don't even care.


September 23, 2011

.Loving on Dylan...


... is the easiest thing in the world to do.  Various obligations and duties have kept me away from her this week more than usual.  I did not like it.  The weekend is around the corner though, and while still booked up solid... at least I get to have my littlest friend with me.

September 20, 2011

.A Walk.


On Saturday, the weather was brisk and refreshing.  I recently read this post highlighting benefits of spending time outside with your child everyday, so we went on a little nature walk in our local park.  I thought baby girl would quickly fall asleep with the rhythm of walking and the soothing sound of the wind in the trees, but her face stayed one full of fascination in the movement of the leaves and the breeze tickling her skin.  We were in no rush, so we took our time and I pointed things out to Dylan along the way  This continued until her eyelids got more and more heavy and she succumbed to a quick nap, leaving a comfortable sound of trees rustling and her breathing against my chest.

September 19, 2011

.Family Lunches.


Every Sunday it's tradition to eat lunch after church with G's parents.  It usually consists of some kind of homemade, southern goodness and is topped off by a dessert that is bound to make us all move at a slower pace for several hours.  Sunday lunches used to be spent exchanging stories from the week, but now it's mostly full of fawning over Dylan.  I'm not complaining though... there's always time for adult conversation later.

September 16, 2011

.Market Square District.


We have another quiet weekend planned as we enjoy this calm before a very busy fall season.  I do enjoy traveling together as a family, because although challenging with a baby... I enjoy exposing her to different worlds.  Since Dylan was born, she's been very alert.  She likes to watch and study things until she wears herself straight out.  We share that- I'm a watcher... an observer... a theorist... a sponge. 

While we were away for Labor Day weekend, we drove up to Knoxville for the afternoon and spent time in Market Square District on the recommendation of my family.  It did not disappoint.  What else did not disappoint was our fantastic brunch at La Costa where I had the most incredibly decadent pancakes in the world {sweet potato to be exact} and great service.  Dylan was perfectly content napping in her carrier, allowing G and I to take our time to browse the shops and truly take in this eclectic-ly hip area.

Hooray for Friday!

September 13, 2011

.Mexican Night.


While visiting Tennessee, during Labor Day weekend, we went to Chattanooga for the evening.  My family took us to one of their favorite Mexican spots, Taco Mamacita, for the best dinner.  It was a warm night perfect to eat outdoors, the food was fresh and filling, and the company great.  After, we went walking by the water where Dylan fell asleep in her sling.  It was sweet to walk hand in hand admiring this cute and lively town where we had made some pretty great memories just years ago.

September 12, 2011

.Playing on Decks.


With the drop in ever-present humidity, the weather has been so nice lately.  We spent the majority of the weekend on our deck playing, reading, and chatting with baby.  It's adorably entertaining to listen to her try to communicate in her baby language and engage with us.  It was refreshing to get to just simply relax together during a laid back weekend before getting back to the grind.

September 10, 2011

.A Little Video.

I've been following Olivia's blog, Everyday Musings, for awhile as her pictures have a way of transporting you to wherever her adventures may have taken her.  She is currently residing in the French countryside and made this little video that I wanted to share...

dordogne from Olivia Rae James on Vimeo.

This just makes me want to pack us up for a holiday, wear Dylan through miles of vineyards on a sunny day, and eat nothing but bread and cheese.  Happy Saturday.

September 9, 2011

.I Only Do This Until I Get Dizzy.

"I only do this until I get dizzy and then I lay down on my back and watch the clouds," he said. "It sounds simple but you won't believe how many people forget the second part."



Have a great weekend.  Life constantly throws us for loops, so don't forget to take some time to just lay in the grass and look up at the clouds every so often.


September 7, 2011

.Alma Mater.


This weekend, after lunch at one of my favorite spots during my college days, we stopped by my Alma mater to check out the major changes since I attended.  My school may have been small, but it is still one of the prettiest campuses I've seen, and they continue to make beautiful additions to accommodate its growth.  I'd be lying if I said I wasn't jealous of the new Dunkin Doughnuts they put in the new Science and Math building; oh what could have been during those harsh early morning classes! 

Going to this university has been a family tradition, so I'm curious what Dylan will decide when the time comes; legacy or following a new path?  As far as I'm concerned, the future can wait with Dylan... the present is already flying past us at a frightening, lightening speed.

September 6, 2011

.Tennessee Breakfast.



Breakfast is my favorite meal.  I think it's because it's the meal that gets neglected the most, yet it is the most important to set the day in the right direction; not to mention breakfast entails the best food.  It doesn't get much better than catching up with family in your pajamas over freshly ground coffee, pancakes, sunshine streaming through windows, fresh flowers, and baby smiles after a long night's rest to start off a great long weekend. 

I wish breakfasts like these could be a daily thing.

September 5, 2011

.Morning.

We just had the best time away for a bit in Tennessee.  We got to stay with my cousin and his wife, share stories over some of our favorite eats, and see family.  More to come later, as I'm going to go enjoy this holiday and spend it lounging with my two loves.


Happy Labor Day.

September 2, 2011

.Keep Pushing for the Life You Want.

Another brutal week; only 12 weeks left to go until the end of this ridiculously busy semester. Work is a different story- there’s never any catching up when it comes to helping manage the symptoms of the severely mentally ill. My to-do list gains more than it loses, and relaxation these days consists of catching up on emails, cleaning up around the house and taking care of sweet baby. I’m sure everyone feels this way most of the time… too much to do and not enough hours to do it. I feel like I’ve been walking in a deliriously confused daze of stress, obligation, exhaustion, dedication, hope, and motivation the past several weeks. I keep telling myself that I’m paying my dues; that this will all pay off in the long run… which I’m sure it will. Right now the long run seems pretty far away though so I push myself everyday to focus even harder on life’s little bits of happiness that I find in between the chaos.

The sweet smile I get from Dylan first thing in the morning and when I pick her up from her Gigi and Poppy’s at the end of the day. The much-too-short-but-so-appreciated massage from G during a weak moment. Sunday night traditions of best friends, baby bedtimes and True Blood. The comfort in knowing I’m following God's calling for me. Support from school friends turned great friends through this process. Exchanging book titles with others. The never-ending calls and texts from my family. Keeping up with old friends no matter how many miles separate us. A long weekend surrounded by the mountains to bring in the fall… right when it’s most needed.

Wishing you a long weekend of exactly everything you need.




.Title quote from Ryan of Pacing the Panic Room.